Designing high energy accelerators under DOE´s ´new culture´ for environment and safety: an example, the Fermilab 150 GeV main injector proton synchrotron

Fermilab has initiated a design for a new main injector (150 GeV proton synchrotron) to take the place of the current main ring accelerator. Environmental and safety questions are addressed. The author details the necessary steps that have to be taken in order to obtain the permits which control the start of construction. Obviously, these depend on site-specific circumstances; however, some steps are universally applicable. In the example given, floodplains and wetlands are affected and therefore the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance is a significant issue. The important feature is to reduce the relevant regulations to a concise set of easily understandable requirements. The effort required and the associated time frame are presented so that other new accelerator proposals can benefit from the experience gained from this example.<>